NTL to branch out into ADSL - report

'Rumour and speculation' says cableco

NTL - which has more than one million cable broadband punters - could be about to offer ADSL broadband to parts of the UK outside its cable franchise areas, according to a report by Digital Spy. The company currently provides phone and dial-up Internet services to customers in such areas.

According to insiders, the 512k service is due to be launched on 1 July, although a spokesman for NTL declined to comment on what he regarded as "speculation and rumour".

Separately, Essex-based ISP NDO has cut the ribbon on two packages. Home500 UpFront costs £19.99 a month, while punters will have to fork out £29.99 a month for its Home1000 UpFront package. Activation costs £65.

NDO is also looking to recruit net users who want to take part in the Extended Reach Trial in Milton Keynes. NDO is one of a number of ISPs taking part in the trial which is testing whether the reach of ADSL can be stretched. At the moment, ADSL broadband is only available to people who are roughly within around 6km of a DSL-enabled exchange. The BT-led trial hopes to extend this limit to 10km

If successful, BT estimates that more than a million homes and businesses - currently wired up to a DSL-enabled exchange but unable to access high-speed Net access - could hook up to broadband. ®